3 Americans Face Death Sentence in DRC Coup Attempt

3 Americans Face Death Sentence in DRC Coup Attempt

A military court in Kinshasa handed down death sentences to three American nationals on Friday, alongside 34 other individuals implicated in an unsuccessful uprising earlier this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Marcel Malanga, 21, Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, 36, and Tyler Thompson, 21, were among 50 defendants for whom prosecutors sought capital punishment, with 14 ultimately being cleared of charges. Malanga is the offspring of Christian Malanga, the mastermind behind the insurrection attempt.

Following the May effort to depose DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, U.S. Ambassador to the DRC Lucy Tamlyn voiced her disapproval of the insurrection and pledged American assistance.

"We are collaborating fully with DRC authorities as they investigate these unlawful actions and seek accountability for any U.S. citizens involved," she stated in a social media post.

State Department representative Matt Miller informed NBC News that the U.S. would continue to observe the proceedings as the men pursued appeals, emphasizing that the U.S. would refrain from passing judgment on their culpability.

"Our understanding is that DRC legal procedures allow defendants to challenge the court's ruling," Miller explained.

The United States has not classified the three men as unjustly convicted.

The May 19 insurrection attempt targeted Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe and additional Congolese officials after President Tshisekedi delayed a parliamentary election. Security forces swiftly thwarted the plot, resulting in six fatalities, including four insurrectionists. The central African nation endured decades of civil conflicts and internal turmoil before adopting its constitution in 2006 and conducting its first multi-party, open elections since 1960.

Minor clashes between political factions have persisted in the years since. Tshisekedi ascended to the presidency in 2018 and again in 2023, though opponents have contested the validity of the latter election's outcome.